National Research and Evaluation Agenda: Chapter 2 Education Consolidation and Improvement Act.

Hawes, John R. B., Jr.

Chapter 2 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act places responsibility for the design and implementation of programs using Chapter 2 funds in the hands of local education agencies, and it assigns responsibility for administering the regulations to state education agencies. No formal mechanism exists, however, for coordinating the collection and distribution of information concerning the application and evaluation of Chapter 2 activities nationwide. The agenda presented in this booklet structures an evaluation process that would permit coordination among the states. The highest priority is given to questions concerning both the impact and effectiveness of programs and the nature of the intergovernmental relations involved in Chapter 2 implementation. Other topics addressed include program delivery and services, the participation of private schools, the states' portions of Chapter 2 funds, local education agency administrative procedures, the fiscal impact and effectiveness of Chapter 2, and various special issues. The booklet also introduces the concepts behind the agenda, describes a computerized Chapter 2 evaluation data matrix kept by the Louisiana Department of Education, and outlines the summary of Chapter 2 evaluation reports being prepared by the United States Department of Education. An appendix annotates 12 research studies on Chapter 2 programs and funding. (PGD)